St'O Aperta

Written by Molly Urnek St’O is shorthand for Sant’Orsola, but it can also be read as “sto aperta” in Italian, or “I am open.” It’s an ironic phrase to describe a building that has been abandoned and inaccessible to the general public for nearly a decade. However, the complex of Sant’Orsola is seemingly in store for a Renaissance. Since its founding in 1309 and abandonment after failed reconstruction in 1985, the complex of Sant’Orsola, in the neighborhood of San Lorenzo, has been passed between many hands, opening its doors to various groups of people over time. First, the building served as a Franciscan convent, home to over sixty nuns and the suspected muse of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. After closing in 1810, the building became a tobacco factory under Manifattura Tabacchi, then a shelter for displaced people during World War II. Afterwards, it became a space for classrooms and offices for the Università degli Studi di Firenze. The building went under renovation in 1980 when it was set to be the barracks of the Guardia di Finanza but was abandoned in 1985. Much of the original contents of the building were destroyed during the renovations in the 80’s, so the preservation of the history of Sant’Orsola will most likely exist as a virtual museum. Three days in September 2014 marked the last time Sant’Orsola was touched by the general public. The art exhibit, “The City Inside San Lorenzo – St’O Aperta,” revealed the potential the building had as a cultural center. The influx of people and interest in the building both locally and internationally unearthed attention that would seem to save the fleeting future of Sant’Orsola. Coordinators of the project have many visions for the future of the center, all of which are based upon a bottom-up approach. Emanuele Salerno, an operational coordinator of Santorsolaproject, explained that no voice in the community will be left unheard in the establishment of the center. “This place is a public resource, and that is where the plans come from — from the public,” Salerno said. The complex will serve as a physical manifestation of the community’s desires. However, just like any other community, there are so many needs to be met, and thereby project planners have come up with numerous ideas for the use of the building. As a result, there isn’t an exact definition as to what will be inside the building. Nevertheless, the space is destined to answer the needs of the community’s diverse population. Ideas for future uses are all designed with both older and younger generations in mind. Possible plans include a swimming pool, spa, gym, playground, and elderly center. It could also house study and coworking environments, artisan workshops, training and teaching spaces, and a rehearsal room for musicians. The building could also serve as a meeting place and exchange service of schools, museums, groups of artists, and associations active in the city and already endowed with resources and cultural programs. Coordinators of the project also see Sant’Orsola as a future space for interdisciplinary events that will not only bring all of the subsections of people together but also amplify their voices so that the government is better reciprocative of their needs. This place will bring the community’s desires to the forefront of the political agenda as well, instead of just being a location for day-to-day activity. community’s future,” Salerno shared. In order to accomplish this goal, the networking association has carried out and organized forums, campaigns, and meetings to include, and inform not only the public but also the public administration of this project. Sant’Orsola will stand as a reflection and manifestation of the multiethnic community through its unique connection with the public and community-based approach. As the community ages and different groups continue to integrate in the neighborhood of San Lorenzo, this multifunctional space will foster and nurture the development of the culture at both the bottom and top level. In the future, coordinators of the Santorsolaproject predict an enhancement of social, economic, and cultural capital with the rebirth of this barren building. However, the project must start somewhere, and for Salerno, the starting point is at the ground-level in San Lorenzo. “The most important part is that we start transitional and temporary uses as soon as possible of the ground floor,” Salerno said. “Again, it’s all about the bottom-up strategy.” The Santorsolaproject is a networking association that, while promoting the petition of “Beauty and Legality of the Central Market at San Lorenzo,” works to recover the complex of Sant’Orsola. “We’re trying to reduce the fragmentation between the public administration and the community so that their voices can be heard and better reflected in the public administration’s decisions for the Photo by Aron Aguilera